Candidates' forum set for Monday

Wednesday

Mar 31, 2010 at 5:40 PM

By GEORGE AUSTIN

By GEORGE AUSTIN

Editor

SOMERSET — The Somerset Democratic Town Committee will hold a forum on Monday, April 5, starting at 7 p.m. in the auditorium of Somerset High School, for candidates running in the annual town election.

All candidates who are in contested races or uncontested races, have been invited to the forum. The format for the forum will include opening statements from each candidate, questions from a panel and questions from the public. The questions have to be phrased in a way that will allow all candidates from a particular office to answer, rather than being directed at one particular candidate.

The moderator for the candidates' forum will be state Rep. Patricia Haddad (D-Somerset). The candidates' forum will be broadcast live by Somerset Access Television. Rep. Haddad said the candidates' forum is an important vehicle for candidates to get their messages out about their campaigns.

"People used to be able to go door to door a lot, but I think there is more emphasis on electronic communication," Rep. Haddad said. "People lead busy lives. This is an opportunity for people to get to know the candidates by watching them on TV from the comfort of their own home."

The public is also welcome to come to the high school to watch the candidates' forum in the auditorium and ask questions.

The race that has drawn the most interest this year is for School Committee where six candidates are running for two three-year seats. They include incumbent Ann Correira, of 8 Lynch Ave., and Michael Correia, of 10 Waring Road, Christopher Murphy, of 268 Longhill Ave., Imad Nasrallah, of 813 Lafayette St., Cheryl Crossley-Simmons, of 570 Main St., and Jamison Souza, of 268 Eastview Ave.

The biggest issues related to the School Committee in the last year have related to whether or not to form a regional high school district with Berkley, discussion about building a new high school or renovating the current building and pay raises for teachers.

The other two contested races in this year's election are for selectman where incumbent Lorne Lawless, of 21 Linda Lane, is being challenged by Stu Mahjoory, of 497 Chace St., and for a three-year seat on the Water and Sewer Commission where incumbent Charles Fisher II, of 406 Pilot Drive, is being challenged by Joseph Almeida, of 50 Captains Way.

Rep. Haddad said she thinks there will be a lot of interest in the School Committee race because of the issues in that department, but also thinks there will be a lot of questions for the selectman's candidates because of the condition of the economy.

The election will be held on May 10. The candidates' night that is being held by the Democratic Town Committee will air several times on the Somerset Access Television channel before that date.

Incumbents who are running uncontested in this year's election include Board of Assessors Chairman Donald Setters, Jr., of 917 Pleasant St., Somerset Public Library trustees Gayle Bradbury, of 1125 Prospect St., and Michael Rezendes, of 41 Davis St., and Playground and Recreation commissioner Maryellen Aspden, of 435 Kaufman Road. Robert Ciosek, of 59 Woodridge Road, who was appointed to the Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School Committee by the selectmen and School Committee this past year, and Christopher Migneault, of 405 Eastview Ave., who was appointed by the selectmen to serve on the Housing Authority during the past year, are running uncontested for their seats. John Ferreira, of 264 Yankee Peddler Drive, is the only candidate for a five-year seat on the Planning Board that is open because Mr. Souza decided not to seek reelection on that board so that he could run for School Committee.